Folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for workout of the spine in horizontal position and for strengthening whole musculoskeletal system

ABSTRACT

Such kind of the spine position and the limbs motions provides a number of benefits for the recreation of the spine and whole musculoskeletal system.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

Closest to the claimed invention is a fitness machine with swinging foot and hand supports, patent U.S. Pat. No. 7,318,791 “Cardiovascular spine exerciser”, containing:

-   -   supporting structure with front and rear attachment points         mounted with the possibility of adjusting the distance between         them,     -   two swinging devices for hands attached on a supporting         structure to the front attachment points,     -   two swinging devices for legs attached on a supporting structure         to the rear attachment points. The main disadvantages of the         known fitness machine are its bulkiness and the inability to         quickly free up space in confined spaces.

STATEMENT REGARDING FEDERALLY SPONSORED RESEARCH OR DEVELOPMENT

Not Applicable

THE NAMES OF THE PARTIES TO A JOINT RESEARCH AGREEMENT

Not Applicable

INCORPORATION-BY REFERENCE OF MATERIAL SUBMITTED ON A COMPACT DISC

Not Applicable

BACKGROUND OF INVENTION

The claimed invention—Folding biokinetic ski fitness machine relates to the field of the biokinetic spine exercisers designed to workout the spine in the free horizontal position being supported on four limbs, for recreation and strengthening the spine and entire musculoskeletal system, for general physical training, for training the vestibular apparatus, cardiovascular and respiratory systems.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The principal purpose of the claimed invention is the creation of an effective folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for strengthening the spine and whole musculoskeletal system with natural motions and which is free of the mentioned Prior Art disadvantages.

The technical result in the claimed invention, containing:

-   -   supporting structure,     -   two hand swinging levers,

is achieved due to the fact that:

-   -   length adjustable two hand swinging levers attached on a         supporting structure with two height adjustable front struts,         each hand swinging lever in its lower part has a handle, the         front struts are mounted on the supporting structure with the         possibility of fixing in the vertical position and folding to         the horizontal position,     -   two longitudinal guides mounted on the supporting structure,     -   two foot supports mounted on longitudinal guides with the         ability to move along longitudinal guides,     -   the length adjustable hand swinging levers connected with foot         supports with a kinematic transmission, which allows the foot         supports and the handles to move in opposite directions,     -   the kinematic transmission consists of a gear unit and two         length adjustable arms—the swinging arm and the horizontal arm,     -   the gear unit consists of a drive gear and a driven gear, the         drive gear is fixed on the axis of the length adjustable hand         swinging lever and the driven gear is fixed on the axis of the         swinging arm,     -   in the second version of the folding biokinetic ski fitness         machine both length adjustable hand swinging levers are attached         on the supporting structure with one height adjustable front         strut.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE SEVERAL VIEWS OF THE DRAWINGS

The claimed invention will now be described by way of examples only and not in any limited sense with reference to the accompany drawings in which:

Referring to the FIGS. 1-4,

the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine with two length adjustable hand swinging levers (2) attached on a supporting structure with two height adjustable front struts (4):

FIG. 1—side view, the dotted lines indicates the right-side hand swinging lever and the right-side kinematic transmission,

FIG. 2—rear view,

FIG. 3—view from above,

FIG. 4—the gear unit.

Referring to the FIGS. 5-6,

the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine with both length adjustable hand swinging levers (2) are attached on a supporting structure with one height adjustable front strut (4):

FIG. 5—view from above,

FIG. 6—rear view.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

Referring to the FIGS. 1-4, the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine with two height adjustable front struts (4) consist of:

-   -   the supporting structure (1),     -   two length adjustable hand swinging levers (2)     -   two handles (3),     -   two height adjustable front struts (4), mounted on the         supporting structure (1) with the possibility of fixing in a         vertical position and folding to a horizontal position,     -   two longitudinal guides (5) mounted on the supporting structure         (1)     -   two foot supports (6) mounted on longitudinal guides (5) with         the ability to move along longitudinal guides,     -   the hand swinging levers (2) connected to the foot supports (6)         with a kinematic transmission,     -   the kinematic transmission consists of a gear unit (7) and two         length adjustable arms—the swinging arm (8) and the inclined arm         (9).

Referring to the FIG. 4:

the gear unit (7) consists of a drive gear (10) and a driven gear (11),

-   -   the drive gear (10) is fixed on the axis of the hand swinging         lever (2), the driven gear (11) is fixed on the axis of the         swinging arm (8).

Referring to the FIGS. 5, 6:

the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine with one front strut (4) consists of

-   -   supporting structure (1),     -   two hand swinging levers (2)     -   two handles (3),     -   one height adjustable front strut (4),     -   two longitudinal guides (5) mounted on the supporting structure         (1)     -   two foot supports (6) mounted on longitudinal guides (5),     -   two hand swinging levers (2) connected to the foot supports (6)         by a kinematic transmission,     -   the kinematic transmission consisting of a gear unit (7) and two         length adjustable arms—the swinging arm (8) and the inclined arm         (9).

The mutual position of the handles and foot supports, wherein the handles spaced horizontally from the foot supports and located higher than the foot supports, provides for trainee a comfortable initial position.

The length adjustable hand swinging levers and height adjustable front struts allow to adjust the inventive fitness machine in accordance with the height of the trainee.

The ability to fold the front struts in a horizontal position makes it easier to move the inventive fitness machine and save space.

The ability to move foot supports and hand swinging levers in opposite directions provides a natural coordination of the movements of the arms and legs

and allows to choose the mode of exercises: the mode of “jumps” or the mode of “steps”.

Length adjustable kinematic transmission arms (8 & 9) allow to regulate the length of movement of the leg supports and the range of strides of the trainee.

The inventive folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for strengthening the spine and whole musculoskeletal system is used as follows:

-   -   the user adjusts the height of the front struts, the length of         the hand swinging levers and the length of the kinematic         transmission in accordance with his height,     -   then the user grips the handles and stands on the foot supports         with the spine in horizontal position,     -   during the training the use, while maintaining the horizontal         position of the body, imitates the movements of the skier,         performing swinging movements with his hands and walking/sliding         movements with his legs.

ADVANTAGES OF THE FOLDING BIOKINETIC SKI FITNESS MACHINE

The folding biokinetic ski fitness machine has all the main benefits of the spine exerciser machines designed to exercise the spine in free horizontal position based on four extremities:

-   -   total body workout—simultaneous and coordinated workout and         strengthening of all main muscle groups and joints with natural         motions,     -   there is no impact, no pain on joints with the spine in         horizontal position—it is good for rehabilitation purpose,     -   provides decompression of the vertebral discs,     -   makes the spine flexible,     -   good cardio effect,     -   training of the vestibular apparatus and the feelings of spatial         orientation.

The folding biokinetic ski fitness machine provides a swimming effect for the spine, but have additional advantages compared to the swimming:

-   -   firstly, with the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine the         muscles of the spine additionally work against gravity,     -   secondly, the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine forcibly         coordinates the movements of the limbs and the entire         musculoskeletal system, improves coordination of movements,     -   thirdly, with the exercise mode “jumps” the folding biokinetic         ski fitness machine has a dual-action function and workout the         agonist and antagonist muscles of the spinal column,         alternatively loading and stretching the front and back         superficial and deep muscle lines (anatomical trains), which         ensures good development and strengthening of the core muscles         of the spine.

The folding biokinetic ski fitness machine provides a triple benefit for the sport:

-   -   the exercising on the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine         before the hard sports load ensures the rapid heating of the         muscles of the entire musculoskeletal system and, in the first         place, the muscles and joints of the lower back and spine, which         effectively reduces the likelihood of injuries and the formation         of residual muscle tension and their further negative         consequences,     -   the exercising on the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine         after the hard sports load (or at the end of a hard-working day)         evenly works out the back muscles without loading the spine,         aligns the balance of the spinal muscles, relax the         intervertebral discs, relieve muscles tension and back fatigue.     -   with the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine, you will get a         noticeably greater reduced rate of perceived exertion than on         traditional fitness machines, because with a horizontal position         of the body, the heart works in light mode for two reasons:     -   the blood is pumped mainly horizontally,     -   with the horizontal position of the body the outflow of venous         blood of the trainee is facilitated.

The claimed invention can be used at fitness clubs, gyms, sport centers, health and rehabilitation centers, hospitals, university and schools, hotels and at home.

The above-described embodiments of the folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for strengthening the spine and whole musculoskeletal system shown in FIGS. 1-6 should be considered in all aspects only as illustrative, but not limiting. It is clear that other embodiments may be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the claimed invention. 

What is claimed is:
 1. A folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for workout of the spine in horizontal position and for strengthening whole musculoskeletal system comprising: a supporting structure, two hand swinging levers, each hand swinging lever in its lower part has a handle, two hand swinging levers attached on the supporting structure with two front struts, the front struts are mounted on a supporting structure with the possibility of fixing in a vertical position and folding to a horizontal position, two longitudinal guides mounted on the supporting structure, two foot supports mounted on longitudinal guides with the ability to move along longitudinal guides, the hand swinging levers connected with the foot supports with a kinematic transmission, which allows the foot supports and hand swinging levers to move in opposite directions, the kinematic transmission consisting of a gear unit and two arms—the swinging arm and the horizontal arm, the gear unit consists of a drive gear and a driven gear, the drive gear is fixed on the axis of the hand swinging lever and the driven gear is fixed on the axis of the swinging arm.
 2. A folding biokinetic ski fitness machine for strengthening the spine and whole musculoskeletal system according to claim 1 wherein both hand swinging levers are attached on a supporting structure with one height adjustable front strut. 